Experiences with the Medical Industry

For several years I was largely, but not entirely,
vegetarian. Then when I started working at a cardiac rehabilitation clinic that
was evaluating the research on very low fat vegetarian diets, I tried that
diet. It seemed to agree with me and I maintained it for a few years. During
this time I became increasing subject to tension headaches. The headaches
started interfering with my life. I identified several dietary triggers,
including chocolate and orange juice.

I felt like I was becoming increasing susceptible to these
headaches and less able to handle stresses. Eventually, I started wondering if
my overall diet was a factor and looked at books advocating high protein diets.
Those books made sufficient justification for higher protein that I decided to
try eating more protein.

When I began eating more nuts, I started feeling better and
had fewer headaches. Later I began eating eggs and felt even better. As I got
older I felt that I needed more protein and started eating fish and seafood.
I’ve known other people who were long-term vegetarians, but felt that they
needed more protein when they got older.

This is one of several cases when my medical symptoms were
actually due to lifestyle factors such as sleeping habits, diet, or lack of
exercise. In general, the medical profession has not been helpful for me in
these cases. The medical profession is slowly getting better in understanding
lifestyle factors, but I still find that my own initiative in such cases proves
more effective than the typical medical training of doctors.

Diet seems to be a particularly controversial topic. To me
it is obvious that different types of food are optimal for different people.
Also, the optimal diet depends on lifestyle and changes as a person ages. Most
people who are knowledgeable about diet will agree in concept with these
points, but when the books get written, they usually seem to advocate one diet
as best for everyone. Finding an optimal diet is ultimately based on personal
experience. The various experts who advocate certain types of diets offer
ideas, but not the final word.